Gladstone

think the new stadium holds maybe 6 to 10, is that right, Paul?

I don't know, but it's always been the second best option anyway because Gladstone clearly is the place that you want to pop everything.

Gladstone's the capital of Queensland after all, fellas.

Paul, you've gone downhill with what you're talking about.

Gladstone, tell you what.

What's the best thing about Gladstone, Paul? I'll tell you the best thing about Gladstone is the road out of there.

What do you reckon?

Hey, don't you start.

Emma is the CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities, Southeast Queensland, a role she's held since May 2022, leading an organization focused on supporting seriously ill children and their families through accommodation wraparound services close to major hospitals.

Fantastic and I met Emma at a McDonald's or really a Ronald McDonald House charities function in Gladstone and I'm actually looking at the person's house that organized that about four doors up, Tony Ward.

So thank you Tony for putting us in contact.

Before returning to Ronald McDonald House Network in Australia, Emma was the CEO of Arthritis Queensland from November 16 to May 22.

So, yeah.

Go the Queenslanders, Emma.

And did you enjoy your little trip to Gladstone? Did you like getting out in the region to support?

I'm a farm girl from Wales.

Ben is a Brisbane-based local industry and employment strategy specialist focused on major projects.

Love it because that's our jam up here in Gladstone.

Particular Queensland and New South Wales is where Chris sort of focuses his attention.

His work centers on helping project owners, investors, and EPCM contractors and government stakeholders solve complex delivery problems tied to local content.

Right.

But

I spent a bit of time in and around Gladstone.

And then just over the years, because of the projects I've been involved in, I obviously always gravitate to the industrial base of Gladstone and the fine supply chain that's there.

This episode is one from the season two vault, and I need to start by owning something.

I owe today's guest, Darren Barlow, the CEO of Gladstone Area Water Board, an apology.

Darren and I actually recorded this conversation to celebrate 50 years of Gaube, and it has taken me far too long to get it out into the world.

As many of you know, midway through releasing Season 2, life changed pretty quickly for me when I was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

For all those that are tuning in and don't know who Darren is and where you work, would you be able to give everybody a little bit of a backstory?

Yes, certainly.

I'm Chief Executive Officer of Gladstone Area Water Board.

We're a state-owned corporation within Queensland.

I think it's Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Yalila Torrens, M-A-I-C-D, is a purpose-driven social work professional based in Gladstone, Queensland.

Yalila is the founder of Yalilla Torrens, Social Worker, Proprietary Limited and holds AMHSW status along with a Master of Australian Institute of Company Directors, which is what the MAICD stands for.

She's been recognised as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Worker of the Year 2025.

Yeah.

Similarly to my name, I have an Aboriginal name.

It's from the Gladstone region.

Genevieve is also an Aboriginal name.

Rocky today, 31 and mostly sunny.

Gladstone, 28 and mostly sunny.

Possible shower, though, tomorrow for Rockhampton.

Maybe a mill, top of 30 degrees.

Ended up in central Queensland before I joined the army at 17.

Whereabouts in central Queensland? Gladstone or Happy Rock as they like to call it.

Yeah,

yeah, yeah.

Oh, look, I always wanted to do something in service.

It was either going to be in the police force, fire or army.

Um, In fact, I think at 16, I surprised half the coppers in Gladstone when I started turning up to do a police course at TAFE in local policing to start doing it just to see what it was like.

But as soon as I turned 17, I decided that military was the way I wanted to go.